SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW RUSSIA CONTINUES TO ARM LIBYA’S HAFTAR: US

Sat 25 July 2020:

The United States military has said Russia appears to be sending more military equipment to its mercenaries in Libya, including in the flashpoint city of Sirte, in breach of an arms embargo.

The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Friday there was mounting evidence from satellite photos of Moscow’s military cargo planes, including IL-6s, bringing supplies to fighters from Russian private military contractor Wagner Group.

“Imagery reflects the broad scope of Russian involvement,” US Army Brigadier General Gregory Hadfield, AFRICOM deputy director of intelligence, said in a statement posted on the military command’s website.

LIBYA: #Russia & the #Wagner Group continue to be involved in both ground & air operations in #Libya

“Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by delivering supplies & equipment to the Wagner group,” said Maj. Gen. Gering.

More: https://t.co/NewSqn0cMJ pic.twitter.com/E7zEMDQxZi

— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) July 24, 2020

The Pentagon released satellite images that it said shows Russian-backed mercenary Wagner Group forces and equipment “on the front lines of the Libyan conflict in Sirte.”

“Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by delivering supplies and equipment to the Wagner group,” said US Africa Command director of operations Major General Bradford Gering. “Imagery continues to unmask their consistent denials.”

He added: “Imagery reflects the broad scope of Russian involvement. They continue to look to attempt to gain a foothold in Libya.”

Imagery shows Russian involvement in Libya through the presence of Wagner Group military equipment. (US Africa Command)

Haftar is supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia, while the GNA is backed by Turkey. 

In May, a leaked US report said Russian private military contractor Wagner Group deployed about 1,200 mercenaries to Libya to strengthen Haftar’s forces.

The 57-page report by independent sanctions monitors, submitted to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Libya sanctions committee, said Wagner deployed the mercenaries in specialised military tasks, including sniper teams.

The UN sanctions monitors identified more than two dozen flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 by civilian aircraft “strongly linked to, or owned by” Wagner Group or related companies.

The monitors also listed the details of 122 Wagner operatives of “whom many are highly probably operational, or have been operational, within Libya”.

Russia and the LNA have both denied previous US military statements that Moscow sent fighter jets to back Wagner forces in the North African country.

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